ANZAC Heroes | Great War 1914 – 1918

Bunbury – Wellington District Western Australia

SAUNDERS, William Henry MM

Full Name: William Henry

SAUNDERS

Date of Birth: 03

–

1885

Place of birth: Brighton SA

Australia

Occupation: Miner

Address: Collie WA

Next of Kin: Father- Arthur Saunders

Next of Kin Address: Five Acres Ewington Collie WA

Religion: Methodist

Service Number: 3934

Rank: Lance Corporal

Unit/Division: 51st Battalion

Enlistment Date: 1915-11-23

Enlistment Location: Blackboy Hill

Western Australia

Embarkation Port:

Embarkation Date: 1916-02-12

Embarkation Ship:

Disembarkation Port:

Disembarkation Date: 1916-03-10

Locations Served:

, ,

Returned: Yes

Discharge Date: 1919-07-19

Cause of Death:

Date of Death:

Place of Death:

Age at Death:

Burial Location:

23/11/1915- To 37 Depot Company as Private
16/12/1915- To “A” Company 5th Depot Battalion
1/01/1916- To 28th Battalion 9th Reinforcements
2/04/1916- Transferred 51st Battalion Tel-el-Kebir ex No. 7 Training Battalion Zeitoun Egypt
12/06/1916- Disembarked Marseilles France ex Alexandria
3/09/1916- Wounded in Action France ( Gunshot Wound Hip ) ex 3rd Casualty Clearing Station
14/09/1916- Evacuated/Admitted Kitchener Military Hospital Brighton England ex Calais France
29/09/1916- Discharged to No. 2 Command Depot Weymouth England ex Hospital
28/11/1916- Proceeded Overseas  4th Australian Division Base Depot Etaples France ex Folkestone ex Weymouth
14/12/1916- Rejoined Battalion in the field France ex Base Depot
13/07/1917- Wounded in Action France ( Gunshot Wound face )
22/07/1917- Admitted 4th General Hospital France
2/11/1917- Admitted 1st Australian Aux Hospital Harefield England
14/12/1917- Granted Leave England
28/12/1917- To No. 1 Command Depot Sutton Veny  ex Leave
16/02/1918- To Overseas Training Brigade Longbridge Deverill
13/03/1918- Proceeded Overseas Australian Infantry Base Depot Havre France ex Southampton ex Longbridge Deverill
18/03/1918- Rejoined Battalion in the field France ex Base Depot
5/05/1918- Awarded  MILITARY  MEDAL
17/07/1918- Appointed  LANCE  CORPORAL  in the field France
11/02/1919- To 3rd Training Brigade England ex Australian General Base Depot Havre France for Return to Australia
13/04/1919- Embarked England for Australia per ” Commonwealth ”
30/05/1919- Disembarked Australia
19/07/1919- Discharged from Service

 

MILITARY  MEDAL

 

Date  of  Recommendation  :  5 May 1918

 

” On night of 24/25th April 1918 during a counter-attack  by the Battalion on strong enemy positions  South of VILLERS-BRETTONEUX, this man, who was a stretcher bearer  continually under very heavy Machine Gun & shell fire , and at great personal risk, collected the wounded.  His untiring energy, bravery and devotion to duty in clearing casualties  was undoubtedly instumental in saving many lives “.

 

Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette :  4 February 1919

 

Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette  :  Page  130,  Position  116

 

Date of London Gazette  : 13 September 1918

 

Location in London Gazette  :  Page  10778.  Position  122.

 

AUTHOR NOTE :-

Thanks to John BIRD ( J.Bird@griffincoal.com.au ) for confirming year of Birth and Next of Kin Address. He also advised that William Henry SAUNDERS was killed in a Mining Accident in 1924.